ELYRIA -- Invacare's Taylor Street facility laid off 40 percent of its 365 hourly employees after an anticipated decline in the plant's wheelchair and power bed production.

The layoffs are a result of a consent decree reached by Invacare and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved by the United States District Court in Cleveland last week.

Under the terms of the decree, Invacare must stop most work in Elyria until it can implement changes that satisfy federal regulators over its quality and design control systems.

Invacare officials met with hourly employees yesterday to announce the 143 employees who would be immediately laid off.

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"We based our layoffs on the employee's individual skill set; there was many factors involved," said Laura Mahoney, Invacare director of relations and corporate communications. "Seniority was not a factor."

Operations for the 222 remaining employees will continue today.

The impacted employees will be given 60 days continuance pay and benefits while other workers will either remain at the Elyria facility or be transferred to the neighboring campus in North Ridgeville.

Mahoney said employees not called back within in the 60 day time frame will be eligible for unemployment.

"We have been making improvements for the last several years," she said "We're taking FDA observations seriously."

Lorain County Commissioner and former Invacare employee Tom Williams has been working with state elected officials to explain the repercussions of a long-term shut down.

"We need every job we can get in Lorain County," Williams said. "It's 143 individuals who thought things were going good two weeks ago. Now they will be looking for new careers. I understand downsizing, but I'm hoping they will be able to find something before their severance packages runs out. It's a small black eye for Lorain County."

Williams recently said the Invacare layoffs as the result of "too much big government."

"The FDA came in and took away 143 jobs; big government and over regulations had a lot to do with it," he said. "When government tells a business how to run a business that becomes an issue."

Lorain County Commissioner Ted Kalo said Invacare has been an important member to the community and very philanthropic over the last several years.

He hopes county government can work with Invacare to return the laid off employees back to work.

"Anytime you hear news like this, it is not good," he said. "Invacare believes they will correct the issue with the FDA and at this point, you look to see where county government can help Invacare through this problem. But Invacare has yet to contact county government in regards to rectifying the issue they have."

Due to the workforce realignment, Invacare expects to incur one-time restructuring charges not to exceed $1.25 million on a pre-tax basis.

"While we regret having to take this step, we recognize the need to align our workforce with our production volume," said Gerry Blouch, Invacare president and chief executive officer. "We value and respect the hard work that our associates demonstrate on a day-to-day basis and we will provide assistance to those affected by to help them with the transition. We remain committed to achieving full regulatory compliance and to resuming full operations at Taylor Street as quickly as possible. Over the past year, we have made significant investments of time, people and resources to achieve regulatory compliance and make Invacare's Taylor Street manufacturing facility an even stronger operation."

After the reduction, Invacare will employ 1,050 people in Northeastern, Ohio and 6,050 people worldwide.

Williams stated if any laid off employees are looking for work, he would help walk them through Jobs Ohio website and look for companies that are hiring. He can be reached at 986-0327.